The Gulf Spill: BP's Culpability Grows

Updates:

The "Top Kill" solution seems to be working, and reports so far say that it has been effective at blocking the flow of oil and hydrocarbons from the well. Here is a link from BP describing the procedure, quantities of materials required, and desired out comes of this technique. (Link) So far news reports say the procedure is a success, however it will take a matter of days for the well to be completely sealed. With the track record of this event now going on 5 weeks, its difficult to be hopeful that anything will be accomplished, yet I am holding out hope. (NYT's Article) I would make an estimate of the quantity of oil spilled thus far but if you look at the NYT's article or many of my previous posts you will see that it is highly contested. Either way, this oil spill is the worst in American history, the previous being the Exxon Valdez that took place in Prince Williams Sound, AK in 1989.

BP's Guilt:

There has been a vast amount of news coverage oriented around figuring out what exactly caused this well blowout, and investigative task forces have been put together, and the government is not going to stop until the truth is known and the spill is cleaned up and on and on. I for one applaud the effort. If I were in charge I would probably do and say the same things. Hopefully with a little more expedience than what we have seen from our fearless leaders. Regardless, if you are curious about this spill and what happened and who's ultimately at fault I highly suggest watching the "60 Minutes" link I have provided. The interviews and documentation is deeply disturbing to say the least. Something has got to be done. Things need to change. It almost makes you wonder whats next or where the checks and balances are or how many people have to die?

(LINK - "60 Minutes" interview)

Personal Note:

After watching these videos, reading countless articles and on and on I find myself deeply moved by this event. This is really sad. The oil in the ocean, looks absolutely disgusting, and the quantities involved are incomprehensible to me. Yet, I do have a car, I rely on it, and the gulf provides something like a third of American oil supplies and BP is one of the, if not the, largest oil producer in America. I realize that this spill is not going to stop off shore energy production. However, seeing the responses from the BP representatives, and listening and reading the statements they have made, and then seen and reading those from the actual rig workers, makes me angry. I don't want to support a company like that. Where do those guys get off? How do they sleep at night? They have killed something like 26 Americans in the last 5 years due to negligence!

Regardless, these events and the way they have been handled does lead to some out rage on my part. Just for good measure, here is a list of BP owned companies if you, I don't know, decide not to support them: Castrol, Arco, Aral, am/pm, Amoco, and Wild Bean Cafe, and Safeway gas.

I don't usually read op-ed articles but like I said I have been reading a ton of oil spill related stuff. Ideally what I would like to see Obama's response be is to out law deep ocean oil production, because obviously the drilling technology far surpasses cleanup and mitigation technology and practices. Further, I would like to see him use this even to launch a pro-environment campaign, which would hopefully pave the way for energy production that moves away from oil into more renewable sources. Op-Ed Article. Obama ran on a platform of change. Well here is his chance to make that change....gonna make a difference,,,,gonna make it riiiiiiiight. Like I have said before, we will just have to see how it goes, I still have some faith that Obama will save the world and end the wars. C'mon Obama...

The Gulf Oil Spill: Update

Update:

So nothing really new is going on. BP is siphoning off approximately 5,000 barrels of oil a day into a supertanker, utilizing a hose connected to the gushing failed well. However, oil continues to be released in vast quantities into the ocean.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8696073.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/us_and_canada/10141194.stm

Its been documented that the spill far exceeds BP's original estimate of 5,000 barrels a day. The oil plume is reaching coast lines, and washing up on shores. Untold quantities of oil are still being released and potentially will be for weeks to come. This is the worst oil spill in US history far exceeding that of the Exxon Valdez spill. The above links have a few videos embedded in them that show what the oil looks like and Obama's declaration of the policy action he intends to take. (It's about time)

The way I see it is that some good will come from this oil spill. Finally, the government will get involved in the oil industry in the United States. Regulations and standards will likely be created. Unfortunately its kind of a too little too late scenario. These regulations are being forced onto the agenda by public outcry. The gulf states are going to be majorly impacted for many years to come. The wildlife in the gulf is likely going to suffer much greater loses than we puny humans. Furthermore, off-shore oil exploration and production will continue.

Personal Note:

I don't claim to be an expert, I don't claim to be an oil proponent and I don't see myself as a 'radical liberal environmentalist.' However, I have had conversations with many many people regarding this issue and I find it interesting to see their reactions and the amount of attention people are giving this event. The vast majority of people I have spoken with don't seem to have any clue whats happening, the extent of the situation, none of it. Those that do either agree with me that there is a serious problem with industry/governmental relations that is very destructive to our country and that this is a very sad event, or they think more along the lines of what the news and BP have disclosed, kind of a devils advocate mentality. Most notably, I had a length conversation with a gentlemen who literally word for word regurgitated the news coverage saying things like "Its a big ocean" or "oil leaks from the ground naturally, oil spills are nothing new" or "look, personally I don't really care because its not in my backyard." I find it funny that people are willing to believe everything that they are told, and that they are ready to be down right combative when you question there opinions. How can society, and peoples intellect progress if nobody is willing to question things or look for greater truths or open themselves up to possibilities that are outside of their personal comfort levels. I also think its funny that some people are willing to be complacent about soo many things happening around them. I mean yeah its a big world, and yes we are all busy with our day to day lives, but things are happening around us at all times and many of those things are outside of our control, but that shouldn't mean that these events don't or won't have an effect on us or that our personal existences are more important than those of people on the other side of the country. I don't claim to have all the answers or be the most involved person, but I do have curiosities, I do question people and the news, I want to know whats happening around me, I want to be involved, I am effected by events regardless of there proximity to me, and further I want other people to know what I know so that they can hopefully pass that along to others and spread the collective wealth of knowledge, and information around.